Turn-table.



H. R. TSUTSUI.

TURN TABLE.

APPLICATION msn JAN.31,191B.

Patented June 4., 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. R'. Tsusur.'

.TURN TABLE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3l. 1918.

Patenteu June L l.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MAW mf v Mmmm, fm2/W www 257/225@ @Mmmm FIC l TURN-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1918.

Application led January 31, 1918. Serial No. 214,641.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY RINzo TsU'rsUI, a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Turn-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in turn tables, particularly those designed for the purpose of permitting automobiles and like vehicles to be turned within a narrow space, drive-way or within a garage.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a turn table of the character described which is exceptionally simple as to construction and entirely automatic in operation, the weightof the vehicle serving to actuate the table so as to cause the same to turn, carrying with it the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve turn tables so as to render them reliable in operation and durable, and to reduce the cost of installation and operation thereof. A further object of the invention is to provide a turn table which, when supporting a vehicle orobject thereon, will, under the weight of the vehicle or object, rotate and upon the removal of the vehicle or object therefrom will automatically assume normal position.

The invention further consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination, association, inter-relation and relative arrangement of parts and members, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a plan view. broken away in part, and in section, of a turntable constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the table; v

Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the table in diagrammatic illustration showing the positions ofa vehicle in approaching and being supported by the table; and

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detail fragmentary vertical sectional view with parts broken away so as to clearly illustrate the particular construction thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, A designates preferably a circular platform comprising a table, said platform or table being constructed of any suitable material and having central supporting means B, also auxiliary supporting means C. Associated with the means C is inclined supporting means D, which, in combination with means generally designated E and associated with the support B for the table, provides for the automatic turning or rotation of the table as will be later more fully described.

In installing the table the ground, pavement or oor in which the table is to be installed is cut away to a suitable depth that will allow the table to be disposed substantially flush with the said surface, and there may be provided a suitable base member l in the bottom of said cut-away portion. Mounted upon the base 1 is an upstanding tubular member 2 having a flange 3 upon its lower end, through which flange fastening elements 4 are inserted to secure the member 2 to the base. A vertical shaft or aXle 5 is rigidly secured to the center of the platform or table A and is rotatably mounted in the tubular member 2.

The means B C D and E cooperate to produce rotative movement of the table automatically when the weight of the object to be turned is placed upon the table. The means E comprises pins 6 and 7 which are secured one above the other to the shaft 5 at a point midway the ends thereof and are located in planes one above the other upon opposite sides of said shaft. There are provided oppositely directed and inclined or spiral slots 8 and 9 in the tubular member2, each slot embracing substantially half the circumference of the member 2, and the pins 6 and 7 extend through and engage-in the slots 8 and 9, respectively. These pins are preferably provided with heads 10 and may be removably mounted in the shaft so as to provide for their renewal in case of wear or reakage thereof. The member 2 is consid erably longer than the shaft 5 and there may be provided suitable bearing members 11 to provide for free rotation of the shaft 5 within the member 2. .There is provided means for returning the table to normal position and which acts to prevent too rapid rotation of the table. This means consists of counter-weights 12 which are secured to the outer ends of levers 13. The levers 13 are pivoted intermediate their ends as at 14 to upstanding bearings 15 which are secured as at 16 to the base 1, on opposite sides of the tubular member 2. The inner ends of the levers are disposed at a point spaced from the member 2 and pivotally connected lupon circular rails as at 17 with a link 18, the latter being inserted through vertically opposed slots 19 formed in the member 2. The shaft 5 engages and rests upon the link 18, which latter follovvs the movement of the shaft during the operation of the device.

y.The means Cffor preventing Wabbling .of the table and for assistinguthe A means E in rotating the table, comprises depending supportingmembers 20 and21 Which are .each

secured yas at 22 to the under side of the ltable and upon ytheir lower ends carry flanged rollers V23. These rollers l23 rest 24: and 25 of the inelined supporting means D. Therails 24: and 25 are mounted upon a stepped base member 26, therail 24 being above the one25 `and-.inclined in an opposite direction thereto. Theserails 24 and 25 correspond in inclination4 and pitch to the slots-8 Land vQin the member 2. vThe rollers 23 ofthe members 20 cooperate with the inner rail 2 4, Whereas the rollers .23 of thesupports 21I vcooperate with the outer rail 25. There may be provided friction rolls .2,7 which ,are jonrnalediupon verticalpins 28 carriedby the supports 20 and 21. Theserolls 27 are positionedztoextendbelovv thetreads 0f the rails .24 and25 and to engage the outer sides of thetread portions of. such rails, `,as shownin Fig. 4' of the drawings. Preferably there are ,provided siX of the supports 20 and 21, three of the supports 2O being mounted upony the rail 2,4: and the remainingthree vSupports21 cooperating with the rail Tnasmuoh as these rails 24Cwand 25 are 4arranged as to inclination or pitch in correspondence `With theinclination or pitch of the slots 8 9Iin, the member 2, the Weightv of the vehicle or object -supported upon the table Will act .jointly upon the meansE and C to produce rotation of the table. There maybe provided a` man hole 29 in the table A. This man hole is preferably located toone side of the center of the table andis of s uchsize to permit ofthe passage of a lpersoirtherethrough in order to repair or inspect the Lparts" located beneath s the table.

In the operation of the turn table, assuming that the same is in position for operation, the surfalceof the table is locatedat this time a distance, for example, of an inch and ahalf above the surface ofthe flooror roadway. The automobile .or other vehicle to, be turned by the table is driven over yand upon the table sothat the IWeight theneof .rests ksolely upon the turntable. The weight of the vehicle upon the table will causethe pins .Gand '7 to traverse the slots Sand .9 ridinguponthe Walls ofsaid slots, and this downward movement of thewpins in a spiral path produces rotation of the table. Asthe pins 6 and 7 descend or Abegin to traverse Vthe slots, the. rollers 2,8 of the supports 42,0 and21 -upon the ra1ls24 .and .25 will .moverincorrespondence with the pins 6 and 7 and likewise produce rotative movement of the table. AsA the shaft 5 Vdescendsfduring the rotation of the table, it depresses and moves doWnwardly the link 18. This action likewise depresses the inner ends of the levers 13 and lifts the Vweights 12. The table A; is designed to ymake one half turn and after having made this turn lthe surface thereof is disposed substantiallyan inch and a half below the surface ofthe floor orv road in which the tablel operates. 1an this .connection -itryvill be noted that the extent; of movement of; the table downwardly is three inchesyland that during such movement downwardly .it makes a complete half turn. However, these di'- mensions may be .varied at will and ifdesi-redy the table may be, made to turn agreater or less`- distance and vhave a greater or less drop by the constructiontand arrangement of the slots8 and 9, together with the means C. After lthe lvehicle npon-the table has beenfturned it may be ydriven off ffrornthe l,tableand -upon relieving the tablepf ,the

Weight of the vehicletlie weights 1.2.Wth

y their associated. mechanism1 act t0 return. .the ytable to normalposition. As the Weights 12 descend theinner 'ends ofthelevers 18 ,and link 18 ,are raised `Within theslots 1x9 vvand thisraising of the link 18:.producesa lifting aetion upon theshaftfil causing the same to be raised and turned while so moved, A with the result'that the table is turned again `into normal position. This laction may be repeated as oftenas desired .and it-ivillbe seenthat as. the mechanism. is comparatively simple there Will be little likeliheodof breakage or extreme wearupon the parts thereof. The shaft 5 is caused to rotate Ein v.the member 2 .when moved.upwardlyt or downvvardlyby the pins Gand 7 :which operate Within the spiral slots .8..and y9. .Thisaction is also accentuated `by the rollers 23. riding upon the rails .24k ,and 25, the latter being inclined in correspondence to thepitch of the slots 8 and 9. The weights 12 prevent too rapidrotation of thetable and serve to immediately 4return ,the table :to a. Vnormal ino position Iupon removal. of, the yWeight of the vehicle from the table. The slight projectien ofthe table abovethe `,surface of-the roadway or floor will not in any vvayinterfere yxwith .the vdriving of,a vehicle orithe placing .or rolling of .a vehicle uponthe `table,land.likevvise the position ofthe ltable after the vehclehas, ,beenY .turned thereby, at a-point below the surface of the .floor or roadway, will notinterfere with-the ymove- .rnent ,of-.the vehicle vfrom olf` the,y table.

It Will beseenlthat Illiaveprovided .an .eXlremely Ireliable and simply y.constructed isl vehicle upon the table, allow the vehicle to remain upon the table until the latter has turned, and then remove the vehicle from the table, the return of the table to normal position taking place automatically.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto, and it is to be understood that I may make minor changes as to details of construction, size and proportion of parts, as required, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. In improvements of the character disclosed, a revoluble platform, a central shaft depending from said platform, a tubular upright bearing slidably and revolubly receiving the shaft, said bearing having a spirally-arranged slot therein, a member carried by said shaft. and engaging in said slot, means for returning the shaft and table to normal position, rollers connected with the table adjacent the periphery thereof, and a runway upon which said rollers engage, said runway having a pitch corresponding to that of the slot in the tubular bearing.

2. In improvements of the character disclosed, a revoluble table, a shaft secured to and depending from the center of said table, an upright bearing slidably and revolubly receiving the shaft, said tubular bearing having oppositely arranged spiral slots therein, members fixed to the shaft and engaged in said slots, means for returning the shaft and table to normal position, rollers connected with the table adjacent to the periphery thereof, and oppositely inclined rails upon which said rollers ride, said rails being inclined in correspondence to the pitch of the slots.

3. In improvements of the character disclosed, a revoluble table, a shaft secured to and depending from the center of said table, an upright bearing slidably and revolubly receiving the shaft, said tubular bearing having oppositely arranged spiral slots therein, members fixed to the shaft and engaged in said slots, means for returning the shaft and table to normal position, rollers connected with the table adjacent to the pe riphery thereof, oppositely inclined rails upon which said rollers ride, said rails being inclined in correspondence to the pitch of the slots, said means for returning the table and shaft to normal position comprising a link vertically slidably mounted within the tubular bearing and engaged with the lower end of the shaft, levers pivoted intermediate their ends and disposed upon opposite sides of the tubular bearing, said levers having their inner ends connected with the link, and weights secured to the outer ends of the levers.

4. In improvements of the character dis closed, a revoluble platform, means centrally supporting said table and which acts under the weight of a load placed upon the table to rotate the table, means coperating with the lastv named means to return the table to normal position, and further means supporting the table adjacent to the periphery thereof and which acts under the weight of a load upon the table to cause rotation of the table.

5. In improvements of the character disclosed, a revoluble platform, means centrally supporting said table and which acts under the weight of a load placed upon the table to rotate the table, means cooperating with the last named means to return the table to normal position, and further means supporting the table adjacent to the periphery thereof and which acts under the weight of a load upon the table to cause rotation of the table; said further means comprising supports depending from the table, rollers carried upon the supports, and independent rails upon which the rollers ride, said rails being inclined in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY RINZO TSUTSUI.

Witnesses:

CHAs. J. CHUNN, ADA HUFFMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

